Kulgam, Nov 02 (KNO): Once widely known as the 'Rice Bowl of Kashmir', Kulgam district is witnessing a big shift in its agricultural landscape, with apple cultivation increasingly replacing paddy fields and emerging as a major driver of its rural economy.
In a major push to strengthen the growing apple economy, two cold storage facilities with a combined capacity of around 10,000 metric tonnes have become operational in the district, while the administration has identified around 250 kanals of state land at Adipora for establishing a second fruit mandi.
Speaking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Bashir Ahmad Lone, General Manager, District Industries Centre (DIC) Kulgam, said both cold storage facilities were functional, had received bookings and could collectively accommodate around five lakh apple boxes.
"Both facilities are operational, have received bookings and are currently functioning. Their combined capacity is approximately five lakh apple boxes," he said.
Lone said that work was underway on two additional cold storage projects, each having a proposed capacity of around 10,000 metric tonnes. "Taking all four projects together, the total investment is expected to exceed Rs 100 crore," he said.
The General Manager said the projects are expected to generate around 120 permanent employment opportunities, besides providing seasonal employment to nearly 200–250 people at each cold storage facility.
He said the facilities would also generate indirect employment for truck operators, auto drivers, apple box suppliers and other associated workers, giving a further boost to economic activity in the district.
Inviting entrepreneurs to invest in the sector, Lone said the Single Window Portal was currently open for applications for land allotment. He added that entrepreneurs could also establish cold storage units on private land after completing the required formalities, including Change of Land Use (CLU).
Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Kulgam Shahzad Alam said around 250 kanals of state land at Adipora had been identified for establishing a second fruit mandi.
He said the existing fruit mandi, located near District Hospital Kulgam, frequently witnesses traffic congestion, particularly during the apple season, prompting demands for an additional facility.
"Keeping in view the growing demand, around 250 kanals of state land at Adipora have been identified for the proposed fruit mandi. A proposal for transfer of the land has already been submitted to the government," Alam said.
The DC said the initial steps would include clearing encroachments and undertaking walling work to secure the site, followed by preparation of a Detailed Project Report (DPR) and development of the mandi in phases.
He said the proposed mandi's proximity to the National Highway would ensure better connectivity and help ease traffic congestion in Kulgam town.
Alam said that fruit growers from neighbouring Shopian district would also be able to utilise the facility.
The changing agricultural profile of Kulgam is evident in government figures. Once predominantly known for paddy cultivation, the district now has more than twice the area under apple cultivation compared to rice.
According to government data, only 6,951 hectares remained under paddy cultivation in 2024-25, against 18,255 hectares under apple orchards.
A spatial land-use analysis published in 2020 had also documented this transition. Between 2011 and 2020, the area under rice cultivation declined from 18,500 hectares to 12,900 hectares, while land under apple orchards increased from 14,667 hectares to 20,787 hectares—(KNO)